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Photo by: Steve Price
Location: Brown Co., WI
Date taken: May , 2000
Camera: Olympus CL 2500L digital camera
Eastern gray tree frogs are the largest tree frogs in Wisconsin ranging from 4 to 5 cm snout-to-vent length. They are characterized by large toe pads, a warty back, and the presence of bright yellow coloration in the groin area. Eastern gray tree frogs range in color from gray to brown to green and are capable of color change.
The eastern gray tree frog is easily confused with the Cope's gray tree frog. It is very difficult to distinguish between the two visually. However, there are ways to tell the two apart. Cope's gray tree frog has a much harsher and louder trill rate when compared to the slower and melodic rate of the eastern gray tree frog. Also, the eastern gray tree frog has twice the chromosome number than Cope's gray tree frog.
Eastern gray tree frogs are abundant in the forests
of Wisconsin. They breed in the spring, but males can be heard calling
from their perches in trees throughout the summer. Tadpoles under go metamorphosis
in mid to late summer. The juveniles are bright green upon emerging. The
juveniles and the adults spend summer months foraging in trees, shrubs,
and fields where they are voracious predators of insects.
Contributed by Steve Price
© 2001-2004 The Cofrin Center
for Biodiversity and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay,
All Rights Reserved
Last
updated on
April 15, 2014